THE SHADOW BETWEEN US

and, jacket slung over his arm. He looked tired, older somehow, as i

pproaching, surprise flickering acro

t I realized I was being rude. You were kind enough

I was worried I'd s

the words hang between us. "I was wondering... would y

ng out on his face. Duty versus desire, responsibil

office," he said, but hi

ked back as if struck by a sudden thought. "Thomas? That thing yo

in the way his shoulders sagged, in the

ou know," he

d, and this time it was almo

-

could be had without being overheard. Thomas seemed to relax as we settled i

ring sugar into my coffee. "It must be

lty people walk free on technicalities." He took a sip of his coffee, and I could see the e

se you're wo

. "I can't really discus

gers brushing his. "It's just that you seem so... burdened. Li

I could see the moment he realized what was happening. The moment he be

tly, "can I ask you

ha

you h

quiet for a long moment, staring into his coffee

ighting the good fight." He looked up at me, and I could see the doubt in his eyes. "But lately, I'

chan

pons, human trafficking." His jaw tightened. "I know they're guilty. I have evidence, witnesses, everything I need to bring them d

e incredibly

ustice is just an illusion, a fairy tale we tell ourselves to sleep

ne he'd set deliberately, but one that cou

" I said carefully. "I believe that sometimes

cult c

enemy? What if the people you're trying to prosecute

he wheels turning in his mind. "That's

a whisper. "What if I told you that the case you're working on, the one that's been

do you

ed. People who depend on the stability that organization provides. P

You're talking about criminals, Elena. Pe

ers at bay." I reached into my purse, pulling out

nvelope like it was a

king on." I slid it across the table. "

t under

en

ographs, documents, financial records. I watched his face as he pr

..." he

e Russians. The real criminals, Thomas. The ones who would fill the power vacuum if Adrian Blackw

usted, superiors he'd respected. Men and women who were supposed to be on his

you get thi

" I leaned back, letting him absorb the implications. "The organization you're trying to destroy is

e an art historian. How could you possibl

his eyes, and let him see the truth in them. "I'm Adria

stared at me like I'd suddenly grown a second head, his mind struggling to rec

of them," he

m someone who chose love over ideology, protection over principle. Someone w

ng me to dro

cross the table. "These people, the ones on the Russian payroll, they're not going to just disappear if you

there was no humor in it. "You ca

eir territory, their people, their interests. But they don't target innocents, they don't deal in

me to choose be

ad of idealistic." I reached across the table, my fingers findin

matters m

e moment my words hit home. "Your daughter Sarah is seventeen, isn't she? Senior

till. "How do you

ight months. I know she wants to be a pediatrician." I kept my voice gentle, non-threatening. "I know

u hurt

s hand. "But the Russians aren't bound by our moral code. If they take over, if they deci

the blanks with his own imagination. Sometimes the most e

want?" he a

has reached a dead end, and request reassignment to a different case." I pulled out

at the card.

l find their services are remarkably affordable, and their protection is... comprehensive." I smiled.

if I

ou'll feel like a hero for about a month." I gathered up the photographs, returning them to the envelope. "Then the R

ness card. When he finally looked up, his eyes were those of

said. "The lunch, the c

stood, smoothing down my dress. "You're not a bad man, Thomas. You're just a man who's been

ood on m

le kiss to his forehead. "The world is full of gray areas, Thomas. Sometimes the

he weight of his choices. I didn't look back, didn't give him a ch

into abandoning his principles, and I'd done it with lies a

what Victoria had w

-

lled her from the car. "I have to adm

her w

oes it

his eyes and the way he'd looked at that business

surprised to find it was tru

's voice was warm with approval. "You've passed you

I know if

investigation is officially dead." Victoria chuckled. "W

ctory in my mouth. I'd won. I'd protected Adrian, proved myself worthy of

like I'd lost so

ead. On the penthouse where Adrian would be waiting, on th

ck by brick, choice by choice, until we ru

thing but name. And Elena Blackwood

power

ria had taught me,